- The BPAQ: A bone-specific physical activity assessment instrument.
- Investigators
- Dr Benjamin Weeks and Dr Belinda Beck
- Email address
- b.weeks@griffith.edu.au
Participation in weight-bearing exercise has been identified as one method of improving bone mass. We developed a brief bone-specific physical activity questionnaire (BPAQ) to record both current and historical physical activity. An algorithm was developed to weight certain loading factors to provide a score that reflects bone-relevant physical activity history. We compared results from the BPAQ with other common measures of physical activity (e.g. questionnaires, diaries, and pedometers) and found that the BPAQ was the only tool capable of predicting bone mass at clinically-relevant sites. (See Osteoporos Int, 19(11):1567-77)
The BPAQ and a calculator for scoring the questionnaire are available for download: www.fithdysign.com/BPAQ/
- Do tendons reduce the energy used by skeletal muscles?
- Investigators
- Dr Glen Lichtwark and A/Prof Chris Barclay
- Email addresses
- g.lichtwark@griffith.edu.au or c.barclay@griffith.edu.au
Most muscles that power movement are connected to the skeleton by compliant tendons. The mechanical and energetic properties of the muscle-tendon unit can be quite different to those of the muscle alone. We are testing the hypothesis that the presence of an appropriately "tuned" elastic tendon can minimise the skeletal muscle energy use and maximise its efficiency. This work provides information that will help understand how animals move and how an animal or human's energy consumption is related to the type of movement and to the characteristics of its muscles and tendons.
- Quantifying the amount of calcium released into muscle cells during contraction.
- Investigator
- A/Prof Chris Barclay
- Email address
- c.barclay@griffith.edu.au
Muscle contraction is initiated and maintained by the release of calcium ions into the muscle cell. We are currently quantifying the amount of calcium released into a muscle cell during a contraction and are investigating how this alters during a sustained contraction and in the period following the end of a contraction. This work generates information about fundamental aspects of muscle physiology and also has potential to provide insights into changes in muscle that occur in fatigue and hypoxia.
- How does the metabolism of skeletal muscle respond to abrupt decreases in oxygen supply?
- Investigator
- A/Prof Chris Barclay
- Email address
- c.barclay@griffith.edu.au
At times, muscles experience periods when their oxygen supply is inadequate to match the muscles' metabolic demands, forcing muscles to either depend on non-oxidative energy sources or to shut-down metabolic processes. In this project we are investigating whether muscles from hypoxia-tolerant animals respond differently to those of hypoxia intolerant animals when the oxygen supply/demand balance is abruptly altered such that oxygen supply becomes inadequate to match metabolic demands. This work has relevance to exercise, physiology of animals in extreme environments and to pathological conditions that reduce muscle perfusion or oxygen supply.
- Are gains in bone strength from an eight-month, in-school jumping intervention maintained after 24 months?
- Investigators
- Dr Benjamin Weeks and Dr Belinda Beck
- Email address
- b.weeks@griffith.edu.au
Osteoporosis is a condition of weakening bone that becomes very susceptible to fracture. Every day, 54 Australians break their hip. Although osteoporosis mainly affects older people, ultimately bone health is heavily influenced by childhood behaviour (e.g. exercise and diet). Recently, studies have shown that young children who perform regular jumping activity develop greater bone strength more than children who do not. We performed a study ("POWER PE") that showed that incorporating 10 minutes of jumping activities into physical education classes for one year was sufficient to enhance the development of bone strength in teenagers (13-year-olds). Whether these improvements will be sustained is currently unknown, but of critical significance. Thus, it is the objective of this study to measure the bone strength of children who participated in the POWER PE trial two years later to elucidate any maintenance effect.